Court Acquits Fayose, Upholds No-Case Submission in Money Laundering Case

A Federal High Court in Lagos has released former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose from all charges in his prolonged money laundering trial. In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke supported a no-case submission from Fayose’s defense team, stating that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not present enough evidence to establish a prima facie case against him. The court determined that the prosecution's evidence was inadequate to necessitate a defense from the former governor. Fayose was on trial with his company, Spotless Investment Limited, facing an amended 11-count charge related to conspiracy and the laundering of over ₦6.9 billion, part of which was reportedly misappropriated from the Office of the National Security Adviser. Justice Aneke noted that none of the witnesses from the prosecution could directly tie Fayose to the alleged crimes. He remarked that speculation cannot substitute for solid evidence in criminal cases and deemed some testimony as lacking credibility and relevance. Following the judgment, Fayose expressed that the ruling validated his longstanding claim of innocence and expressed gratitude to the judiciary, feeling relieved that the case, which has been ongoing since 2018, has concluded. Fayose’s lawyer, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), praised the court’s verdict as a triumph for justice, highlighting the significant distress and reputational damage the case had caused his client over the years. The EFCC has not yet commented on the ruling or indicated if they will appeal the decision. Legal experts believe this outcome may intensify criticism of the Commission’s approach to high-profile corruption cases, many of which have not led to convictions. This case against Fayose was a prominent prosecution within the previous administration’s anti-corruption agenda. His acquittal contributes to a growing list of former officials who have seen charges dismissed or who have been exonerated after lengthy trials.